Town sheriff Tess O'Hara has gov't agent, and former lover, Jake Wilder back in her life while they jointly investigate a case. In this excerpt, Jake sees his lady at work.

O'Hara Vs Wilder by Linda Wisdom

available at www.triskelionpublishing.net

"Yep, your typical watering hole," Jake muttered, looking at the number of pickup trucks in the parking lot.

Several women wearing tight jeans and equal­ly tight shirts stumbled out the front door. Their drunken giggles drifted across the parking lot. His head swiveled around when he heard Tess mutter an earthy profanity.

"Tiny is back. No wonder Red is panicking." She climbed out of the truck and walked around to the rear. Jake followed her and watched her pull out her shotgun, load a couple of shells, and drop more in her shirt pocket.

"If you have to defend yourself inside there, wouldn't you be b etter off using a handgun?" His mouth grew dry, at the idea of her getting shot because she couldn't return fire in a crowded room.

"Not with Tiny." She lifted her head and studied him. "Are you all right? You look a little green around the gills. The Jake Wilder I remember didn't turn a hair when he faced Carlos Lopez, who was not only more than a little psychotic but also well known to use a very sharp knife to carve dirty words on his opponents. And then there was Steven Keats, who looked like your everyday normal guy and had the mind of a real scuzz." She slammed the back of the truck shut and headed for the door.

"And what's Tiny like? His name or the opposite?"

The noise rolled over them when Tess opened the door. Jake could hear the unmistakable sounds of arguing and a fight as they entered.

Tess leaned back against his chest as she pointed across the room. 'The big guy with all the tattoos is Tiny."

"Holy-"Jake's epithet was smothered by the yell­ing going on around him. He stared at a man who had to be six foot five, with long, dirty hair, wearing the ragged jeans and frayed T-shirt usually found on a biker. And Tess was going to go up against him?

Tess shoved her way through the crowd until she reached a tall, beefy man who was perfectly bald.

here's Frank?' she shouted in his ear.

He looked over her shoulder. "That the guy you been boffing in Palm Springs?" Tess didn't change expression. "Where is Frank?"

He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "He tried his usual trick to hold Tiny down, so Tiny threw him against the wall. Myrna's trying to bring him to." A wave of disgust flashed over his face. "Although I doubt he needs the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation Myrna's giving him. Look , Tess, I want Tiny and his friends out of here before they tear the place apart."

Tess nodded grimly. "Where's Brock?" She mentioned his bouncer. "In almost as bad shape as Frank. Now, please get him the hell out of here!'

"What do we do?" Jake murmured in Tess's ear.

"You're a computer consultant, remember?"

"So tell them I watch all the reruns of 'NYPD Blue.' " He remained at her heels as she made her way to the center of the bar, where three men were in the midst of a wrestling match that involved breaking furniture.

"All right, enough!" she shouted. When they ignored her, she shook her head slightly and aimed the rifle over their heads. The first shot barely skimmed over the tallest man's head, and the second nicked the second man's shirt collar.

Both men froze and turned in her direction.

"You again!" Tiny sneered. '"Why ain't you home where you belong? You broads who think you can be cops make me sick."

"Believe me, I'd love to be home catching up on my sleep, but instead I got a call to come out here because you were being a bad boy again," she told him. "I hope you've got the money to pay the damages and that you'll decide to go quietly. I'm in no mood to put up with one of your tantrums."

He hitched his jeans up over a bulging beer belly. "No broad tells me what to do."

"Yeah, Tiny, show the lady sheriff who's the man around here!" one of the other men bellowed with a drunken laugh.

"Has she ever had to come out here before?" Jake asked Red as the other man came up beside him. He shook his head.

"Tiny showed up the first time about eight months ago, and my boun cer got him out of here when he made trouble. This time he's a lot worse." Jake looked back to the troublemaker. "He's prob­ably on drugs. You can see the signs."

Red looked suspicious. "You a cop?"

He shook his head. "Computer consultant."

"Then who's going to help Tess? " Both men tamed back to the show when they heard the jeering getting louder and more profane from the crowd.

Jake didn't miss the look in Tess's eye. He remem­bered the last time he had seen the look and what had happened to the person who caused it. "I'd say she can handle herself just fine.'

"You calling me a wimp?" Tiny roared at Tess.

She looked unconcerned by his fury. "Only if you think the picture fits, and I'd say it does."

Still roaring, Tiny advanced on Tess with his hands outstretched in preparation to wring her neck.

"She needs help!" Red grabbed Jake's arm.

"Trust me, she'll be fine." And if he turned out to be wrong, he knew he wouldn't hesitate to drop the guy where he stood. Tess was familiar with Frank's tactics on handling the large man. She didn't even try them. She quickly gauged the man and did what she felt would work the best for her. She spun around and firmly planted her boot in his midriff. It effectively pushed the air out.

Tiny's eyes bulged, and his breath whooshed out of his lungs like a hurricane.

He immediately dropped to the floor in a sitting position. "Don't worry, Tiny, I only knocked the wind out of you. You're not in any danger of suffocating," she assured him as she dragged his hands behind his back and slipped the handcuffs on. "Just relax, and by the time you're at the jail, you'll feel fine."

She reached for the second pair of handcuffs she always carried and gestured for the second man. 'You going to behave, or do I have to use my feminine wiles on you too?" The man didn't hesitate.

"Somebody told me she used to work for the government, but I didn't believe them," Red said. "I mean, I thought she was a secretary for them or something. That was one nice piece of work she just did. I always thought women couldn't do that kind of thing. I mean, you see it on TV, but that's only special effects. She's good."

"PMS," Jake pronounced. "Gets 'em every time. "